LIVORNO Guitar & Keys opens on Tuesday 30 April at 4pm the Eden at the Terrazza Mascagni, the large tensile structure designed by the Lem Foundation to contain a series of initiatives.
«Guitar&Keys is an event that we have already held in the past – begins Luca Valdambrini – This, however, is the first time that it takes place within a large structure, allowing the exhibition to unfold its full potential. I thank the Municipality of Livorno and the Lem Foundation for this opportunity which allows us to present two very prestigious collections. Both Camorani’s over one hundred Fender guitars and Keki Andrei’s keyboards can not only be admired, but also listened to and in some cases tried to the delight of enthusiasts.”
Guitar & Keys presents itself as what will probably be the largest exhibition of vintage musical instruments ever held in Livorno with reference to guitars, on the one hand, and everything that is “keyboards” on the other.
The event was born as an exhibition initiative dedicated exclusively to the legendary Fender guitars. Then the idea of adding the most famous vintage keyboards to the exhibition. From this was born a one-of-a-kind event curated by Luca Valdambrini, Francesco Tonarini and Lorenzo Valdambrini of Surfer Joe.
Inside the Eden tensile structure at the Terrazza Mascagni, a fantastic exhibition of these fascinating vintage instruments from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s will come to life. In particular, the most important collection in Europe of Fender guitars belonging to Flavio Camorani will be hosted. Already present on two occasions inside Surfer Joe with his amazing collection, this time he presents himself with his complete collection. Basically, everything Fender produced between 1951 and 1974.
Over 100 pieces from this collection will be exhibited in Livorno and organized in chronological order complete with the relevant annual catalogs and other related objects.
Thanks to Keki Andrei’s Organ Studio from Ortonovo, it will also be possible to visit the most important exhibition of vintage keyboards in Italy and beyond. You can admire Hammond organs, Rhodes and Wurlitzer pianos.
Also in this case we will try to maintain a chronological or thematic order of the exhibition, in order to guarantee immersion in this world. Keki will be available for questions, clarifications or curiosities, or perhaps to tell the story of the pieces on display.
All this will be accompanied by concerts scheduled both inside Surfer Joe and the tensile structure, inside which a stage will be placed for performances.
Opening time
The opening hours of Guitar & Keys will be as follows: Tuesday 30/4 from 4pm to 11pm, Wednesday 1/5 from 10am to 11pm, Thursday 2/5 from 4pm to 11pm, Friday 3/5 from 4pm to 11pm, Saturday 4th /5 from 10am to 11pm, Sun 5/5 from 10am to 8pm.
The Camorani collection
Flavio Camorani has distinguished himself throughout the world for having put together the most incredible collection of Fender, an American guitar brand born in California in 1946, becoming a real point of reference for both private enthusiasts and professionals in the sector. The collection contains everything that the American company produced between 1951 and 1974, with some exceptions of rare pieces before 1951 and some “sub collections” dedicated to particular instrument colors or certain technical characteristics. Not only guitars, but also amplifiers, some of which will be present in Livorno.
The reason for Camorani’s great success is not only in his ownership of the collection as such, but also in his contribution to research and knowledge of the construction history of these beautiful objects. In fact he studied, opened, dissected and analysed, in incredible, tiny details of incalculable historical and cultural value, all these guitars, discovering many errors that had been committed in the past years regarding the construction methodologies, but also the motivations behind to certain production choices. Camorani has therefore become the person to ask when you come across a vintage Fender instrument to know about its originality and value.
The collection was photographed and described piece by piece in a publication composed of two books and entitled “Our Vintage Soul”, co-produced with Vincenzo Atzori and with details of obsessive precision, which represents a bit of the “Bible” for enthusiasts and collectors. This collection is constantly changing and expanding so we believe that this publication, in its second edition, will not stop here but will be further expanded.
As a good musician, Camorani knows that the true value given to an instrument is entirely personal and is a question of “feeling” between the musician and the instrument itself. Therefore, he makes all the instruments on display available for testing, obviously connected to amplifiers of equally high quality, so that the visitor can enjoy their sound and clearly understand the differences between the various years of production.
Organ Studio Italia by Keki Andrei
Anyone who has or has dealt with keyboards of a certain level has come across Keki Andrei. In addition to being an organist of great value, he represents one of the greatest experts and connoisseurs of these instruments which contain a wonderful and very ancient history.
In fact, we go back to the origins of the electric piano, understanding why these instruments were born and how they evolved. But on this journey we also realize how much they have influenced modern music with their sonic and technological innovations. And then he will be able to see, touch and try keyboards that have left an indelible mark with brands such as Hammond, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Vox, Farfisa, Leslie, but also old synthesizers such as Yamaha, Korg or Roland.
Unlike Camorani, Organ Studio Italia is also a well-active commercial reality in Luni (SP) with a showroom for direct import and sale of used or new products, but also for the supply of spare parts and repairs. A market very dear to enthusiasts since these are rare instruments of great value, including economic value, so the most expert hands are sought when there are interventions to be carried out.
